Windshield wiper drive

ABSTRACT

A windshield wiper drive for a motor vehicle, with a reverse-operating driving motor for driving a wiper shaft which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a wiper arm, and with a fastening plate for fastening the windshield wiper drive to a vehicle body or to a component mounted on the body, wherein a first end stop surface for limiting the rotational movement of the wiper shaft in a first direction of rotation is provided on the fastening plate and/or on a component fixed to the fastening plate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/812,861 filed Dec. 16, 2010, which is a national stage filing under35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2008/063925 filedOct. 16, 2008, which claims foreign priority to German PatentApplication No. 102007059905.8 filed Dec. 12, 2007, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference. Priority to each applicationis hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a windshield wiper drive for a motor vehicle.

In windshield wiper drives used nowadays, an electric driving motor isconnected to the wiper shaft via a crank assembly. A continuousrotational movement of the driving motor is converted by the crankassembly into an oscillating movement of the wiper shaft to and fro.Disadvantages of the known windshield wiper drives include the complexconstruction and the number of components required.

“Windshield wiper direct drives” have therefore been developed, in whichthe provision of a crank assembly is omitted. In windshield wiper directdrives, either the motor shaft of a reverse-operable driving motor isconnected in a rotationally fixed manner to the wiper shaft, or themotor shaft forms said wiper shaft, or a toothed gear mechanism isarranged between the motor shaft and the wiper shaft. A disadvantage ofwindshield wiper direct drives is that the wiper shaft is theoreticallyrotatable through 360° when large external displacement forces areapplied. During journeys at a high speed, this may result in the wiperarm which is fixed to the wiper shaft being pivoted due to the forces ineffect into a region outside the vehicle window, which constitutes aconsiderable safety risk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the problem of proposing an optimizedwindshield wiper drive, in particular a windshield wiper direct drive,in which the maximum angular range through which the wiper shaft isrotatable is limited.

The invention is based on the concept of providing a first stop surfacefor limiting the rotational movement of the wiper shaft in a firstdirection of rotation on a fastening plate for fixing the windshieldwiper drive to a body or to a component mounted on the body. As analternative, said first end stop surface may also be provided on acomponent fixed to the fastening plate. It is essential that the firstend stop surface is arranged and designed in such a manner that it canlimit the maximum angle of rotation of the wiper shaft in a firstdirection of rotation. For this purpose, in order to limit therotational movement, the first end stop surface does not necessarilyhave to interact directly with the wiper shaft—an embodiment can also berealized, in which the first end stop surface of the fastening plate orof the component fixed to the fastening plate interacts directly with acomponent connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the wiper shaft,in particular with the wiper arm. By means of the provision of a firstend stop surface for limiting the maximum rotational movement or themaximum angle of rotation of the wiper shaft, it is avoided that amaximum angle of rotation can be exceeded by the wiper shaft, andtherefore the wiping region of the wiper arm on the window is notstrayed from. An embodiment of the windshield wiper drive isparticularly preferred, in which the end stop surface is not used duringnormal operation, i.e. the wiper shaft or a component fixed thereto doesnot strike against the first end stop surface during each pivotingmovement in the first direction of rotation. It is preferable for thefirst end stop surface to form a type of emergency stop or emergencylimit. During normal operation, the wiper shaft should be reversed priorto striking against the end stop surface by means of an appropriatedesign of the motor control system. It lies within the scope of theinvention that the first end stop surface limits a lower parkingposition of the wiper shaft or of the wiper arm or an upper or lateralmaximum end pivoted position.

The window wiper drive designed in accordance with the concept of theinvention is preferably a windshield wiper direct drive without a crankassembly, in which either the wiper shaft is connected in a rotationallyfixed manner to the motor shaft, or is formed by the motor shaft, or inwhich the wiper shaft is connected directly to the wiper shaft in atorque-transmitting manner via a toothed gear mechanism and/or wormwheel gear mechanism, i.e. without the interconnection of a crankassembly.

In a development of the invention, it is advantageously provided that asecond end stop surface for limiting the rotational movement or thepivoting angle of the wiper shaft in a second direction of rotationopposed to the first direction of rotation is provided in addition tothe first end stop surface for limiting the rotational movement or thepivoting angle of the wiper shaft in a first direction of rotation. Inother words, the wiper shaft can be displaced at maximum in a regionbetween the two end stop surfaces. By means of the provision of two endstop surfaces which are spaced apart from each other in thecircumferential direction, the maximum rotational movement of the wipershaft or the maximum pivoting movement of the wiper arm in both pivotingdirections is therefore limited.

In order to enable optimum fixing of the windshield wiper drive to thevehicle body, an embodiment is preferred in which the wiper shaft, whichis designed as a single part or in multi-part form, is arranged suchthat it passes through the fastening plate. In other words, a preferablycircumferentially closed through opening for receiving the wiper shaftis provided in the fastening plate.

In order to obtain a particularly compact design, an embodiment ispreferred, in which the first and/or the second end stop surface are/isformed by the inner contour of the through opening. It is also preferredin this embodiment if at least one of the two end stop surfaces,preferably both end stop surfaces, are/is formed directly on thefastening plate. However, an embodiment can also be realized, in whichone or both end stop surfaces is/are arranged on a component fixed tothe fastening plate.

With regard to realizing the window wiper drive in a manner optimized interms of costs, an embodiment is preferred, in which a first counterstopsurface for interaction with the first end stop surface is formed on thewiper arm fixed to the wiper shaft. A second counterstop surface forinteraction with the second end stop surface, which may optionally beprovided, is preferably also provided on the wiper arm. Particularlypreferably, the counterstop surfaces are located on an in particularcircumferentially closed section of the wiper arm, which sectionsurrounds the wiper shaft and projects in sections in the axialdirection into a through opening in the fastening plate. At least thatsection of the wiper arm which has at least one counterstop surface forinteraction with an end stop surface of the fastening plate or with anend stop surface on a component fixed to the fastening plate isparticularly preferably an injection molded part made from plastic.

In addition or as an alternative, an embodiment can be realized, inwhich the first counterstop surface and/or the second counterstopsurface are/is arranged directly on the wiper shaft or on a componentconnected in a rotationally fixed manner to the wiper shaft. Thiscomponent which has at least one counterstop surface is preferably acomponent which is pressed onto the wiper shaft. An embodiment isparticularly preferred, in which the component is received between twoshaft parts of the wiper shaft, as seen in the axial direction, whereinsaid shaft parts can preferably be plugged one into the other.

A particularly compact design of the windshield wiper drive can berealized if the first and the second end stop surface are arranged ontwo sides facing away from each other of a radially inwardly directedradial section of the fastening plate. Said radial section preferablyprojects radially inward into the through opening for receiving thewiper shaft. As an alternative, the radial section together with the twoend stop surfaces is not formed directly by the fastening plate butrather by a component fixed to the fastening plate. In order to ensurean exact course of pivoting of the wiper arm relative to the fasteningplate and at the same time interaction of the end stop surfaces withcorresponding counterstop surfaces, an embodiment is preferred, in whichthe radial section together with the two end stop surfaces projects inthe radial direction into a guide slot formed on the wiper arm, whereinthe guide slot preferably extends over an angular region of a wiper armsection directed in the axial direction and is limited by onecounterstop surface on each of the two end sides which are opposite eachother in the circumferential direction.

In an alternative embodiment, the two counterstop surfaces are notarranged at the ends of a guide slot but rather are formed by two sidesfacing away from each other and spaced apart from each other in thecircumferential direction of a radially outwardly directed radialsection of the wiper shaft. As an alternative, the radial section is notformed directly by the wiper shaft but rather by a component fixed tothe wiper shaft. The radial section together with the two counterstopsurfaces which are spaced apart in the circumferential directionadvantageously projects in the radial direction into a guide slot whichis either arranged directly on the fastening plate or on a componentfixed to the fastening plate, wherein the guide slot extends over anangular region in the circumferential direction and has an end stopsurface on both end sides which are spaced apart from each other in thecircumferential direction, wherein each end stop surface is designed andarranged for interaction with a respective counterstop surface providedon the radial section.

In order to permit as defined and exact a positioning or fixing aspossible of the windshield wiper drive on the vehicle body or on acomponent mounted on the vehicle body, the fastening plate preferablyhas three fastening openings which are spaced apart from one another inthe circumferential direction and in each of which a fastening screw canbe received. In addition or as an alternative, differently designedfastening means may be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge fromthe description below of preferred exemplary embodiments and withreference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of awindshield wiper drive,

FIG. 2 shows an exploded illustration of the part of the windshieldwiper drive according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a second, alternative exemplaryembodiment of a windshield wiper drive, and

FIG. 4 shows an exploded illustration of a part of the windshield wiperdrive according to FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Identical components and components with the same function areidentified by the same reference numbers in the figures.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first exemplary embodiment of a windshield wiperdrive 1 designed as a windshield wiper direct drive.

The windshield wiper drive 1 comprises an electric driving motor 3 whichis arranged in a motor housing 2 and can be reverse-operated by means ofa motor control system (not shown). In the exemplary embodiment shown,the driving motor 3 is connected via a gear mechanism 5, which isarranged in a gear mechanism housing 4 and has no crank rod, to a wipershaft 6 in a torque-transmitting manner. An embodiment can alsoalternatively be realized, in which a gear mechanism 5 is omitted, andthe motor shaft of the driving motor 3 forms the wiper shaft 6 or isconnected in a rotationally fixed manner to a wiper shaft 6. In theexemplary embodiment shown, the motor housing 2 which is designed as adeep-drawn part is flange-mounted laterally on the gear mechanismhousing 4. To fix the windshield wiper drive 1 to a vehicle body, thewindshield wiper drive 1 comprises a metal fastening plate 7 with threefastening openings 8 spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

The fastening plate 7 is fixed to the gear mechanism housing 4 with theaid of three fixing screws 9 which pass through respective fixingopenings 10 in the fastening plate 7.

The fixing openings 10 are arranged around the edge of an elevation 11which has a slightly obliquely rising circumferential wall 12 and anupper annular section 13 running substantially at right angles to thecircumferential wall 12. The annular section 13 delimits a throughopening 14, through which the wiper shaft 6 passes, radially on theoutside. As is apparent from FIG. 2, the wiper shaft 6 is designed intwo parts and consists of an upper shaft part 15 which can be insertedby a lower axial section 16 into a lower shaft part 17. The wiper shaft6 is connected by the upper shaft part 15 in a rotationally fixed mannerto a wiper arm 18 or to an articulated section of a wiper arm 18, towhich a wiper blade (not shown) can be fixed. The two-part design of thewiper shaft 6 has the advantage that a cap to guard against water can befitted in a simple manner. An external threaded section 19 is providedat the end of the upper shaft part 15, said external threaded sectionserving to receive a fixing nut 20 by means of which the wiper arm 18can be fixed in turn to the wiper shaft 6.

As emerges in particular from FIG. 2, the through opening 14 forreceiving the wiper shaft 6 has a substantially circular contour. At onepoint, said circular contour is interrupted by a radial section 21 whichprojects inward in the radial direction into the through opening 14. Onthe side which is on the left in the plane of the drawing, the radialsection 21 is delimited by a first end stop surface 22 which, in thefitted state, interacts with a first counterstop surface 23 to limit therotational movement of the wiper shaft 6. On the side facing away fromthe first end stop surface 22 in the circumferential direction, theradial section 21 is delimited by a second end stop surface 24 which, inthe fitted state, interacts with a second counterstop surface 25. Inthis case, the two end stop surfaces 22, 24 project radially inward.

The two counterstop surfaces 23, 25 delimit a guide slot 26 in thecircumferential direction on a section 27 of the wiper arm 18, whichsection extends in the axial direction. In this case, the guide slot 26is designed as a recess extending in the circumferential direction inthe circumferential wall of the section 27. The outside diameter of thesection 27 substantially corresponds to the diameter of the throughopening 14 minus a small amount of play, and therefore the wiper arm 18in the fitted state is guided on the inner circumference of the throughopening 14, in which case the maximum pivoting angle is limited by therelatively large circumferential extent of the guide slot 26, the endsides of which, which is spaced apart in the circumferential direction,are formed, as mentioned, by counterstop surfaces 23, 25 which interactwith the end stop surfaces 22, 24 on the radially inwardly pointingradial section 21.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an alternative exemplary embodiment of a windshieldwiper drive 1 which is designed as a windshield wiper direct drive,wherein the illustration of the driving motor and of the gear mechanismor gear mechanism housing has been omitted for reasons of clarity. Saidfeatures may be designed, for example, as in the exemplary embodimentaccording to FIGS. 1 and 2. To avoid repetitions, essentially only thedifferences over the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 areentered into below. With regard to the common features, reference ismade to FIGS. 1 and 2 and to the associated description of the figures.

FIG. 3 shows the fastening plate 7 together with the fastening openings8 therein for fixing the windshield wiper drive 1 to a vehicle body. Asin the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the fastening plate 7has a dome-like elevation 11 with an upper annular section 13 whichdelimits a through opening 14 which has a substantially circular ringcontour. The through opening 14 merges in an angular region into a guideslot 26 which is designed as a recess in the fastening plate 7 and as aradial extension of the through opening 14. The guide slot 26 extends inthe shape of a circular arc in the circumferential direction and isdelimited by one counterstop surface 23, 25 at each of the two end sideswhich are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction.The counterstop surfaces 23, 25 interact with the end stop surfaces 22,24 which delimit a radial section 28, which points outward in the radialdirection, in the circumferential direction. The radial section 28 isarranged on a component 29 which has an annular section 30 (cf. FIG. 4)through which the wiper shaft 6, or more precisely the axial section 16of the upper shaft part 15 of the wiper shaft 6, passes. The component29 is connected together with the annular section 30 thereof to theaxial section 16 of the shaft 6 in a rotationally fixed manner. Theoutside diameter of the annular section 30 corresponds to the diameterof the through opening 14 in the fastening plate 7 minus an amount ofplay, and therefore the wiper shaft 6 is guided on the fastening plate 7via the component 29.

1. A windshield wiper drive (1) for a motor vehicle, with areverse-operating driving motor (3) for driving a wiper shaft (6) whichis connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a wiper arm (18), andwith a fastening plate (7) for fastening the windshield wiper drive (1)to a vehicle body or to a component (29) mounted on the body,characterized in that a first end stop surface (22) for limiting therotational movement of the wiper shaft (6) in a first direction ofrotation is provided on the fastening plate (7) and/or on a component(29) fixed to the fastening plate (7).
 2. The windshield wiper driveaccording to claim 1, characterized in that a second end stop surface(24) for limiting the rotational movement of the wiper shaft (6) in asecond direction of rotation opposed to the first direction of rotationis provided on the fastening plate (7) and/or on a component (29) fixedto the fastening plate (7).
 3. The windshield wiper drive as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that the wiper shaft (6) is arranged passingthrough a through opening (14) in the fastening plate (7).
 4. Thewindshield wiper drive as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that thefirst and/or the second end stop surface (22, 24) are/is formed by theinner contour of the through opening (14).
 5. The windshield wiper driveas claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a first counterstop surface(23) for interaction with the first end stop surface (22) and/or asecond counterstop surface (25) for interaction with the second end stopsurface (24) are/is arranged on the wiper arm (18), preferably on asection (27) of the wiper arm (18), which section surrounds the wipershaft (6), at least in sections, preferably completely.
 6. Thewindshield wiper drive as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that afirst counterstop surface (23) for interaction with the first end stopsurface (22) and/or a second counterstop surface (25) for interactionwith the second end stop surface (24) are/is arranged on the wiper shaft(6) and/or on at least one component (29) which is connected in arotationally fixed manner to the wiper shaft (6), in particular ispressed therein or thereon.
 7. The windshield wiper drive as claimed inclaim 6, characterized in that the component (29) connected in arotationally fixed manner to the wiper shaft (6) is arranged axiallybetween two shaft parts (15, 18) of the wiper shaft (6) which isdesigned as a multi-part shaft.
 8. The windshield wiper drive as claimedin claim 1, characterized in that the first and the second end stopsurface (22, 24) are arranged on two sides facing away from each otherof a radially inwardly directed radial section (21) of the fasteningplate (7), or on two sides facing away from each other of the component(29) fixed to the fastening plate (7), and in that the radial section(21) or the component (29) projects into a guide slot (26) which isprovided on the wiper arm (18) or on the wiper shaft (6) or in acomponent (29) fixed to the latter, extends in the circumferentialdirection and has one of the counterstop surfaces (23, 25) at each ofthe two ends spaced apart in the circumferential direction.
 9. Thewindshield wiper drive as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that thefirst and the second counterstop surface (23, 25) are formed on twosides facing away from each other of a radially outwardly directedradial section (28) of the wiper shaft (6), or on two sides facing awayfrom each other of the radially outwardly pointing component (29) whichis fixed on the guide slot (26), and in that the radial section (28) orthe component (29) protrudes into a guide slot (26) which is provided onthe fastening plate (7) or on a component (29) fixed to the fasteningplate (7), extends in the circumferential direction and has an end stopsurface (22, 24) at each of the two ends spaced apart in thecircumferential direction.
 10. The windshield wiper drive as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that the fastening plate (7) has threefastening openings (8) which are spaced apart from one another in thecircumferential direction.
 11. The windshield wiper drive as claimed inclaim 2, characterized in that the wiper shaft (6) is arranged passingthrough a through opening (14) in the fastening plate (7).
 12. Thewindshield wiper drive as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that thefirst and/or the second end stop surface (22, 24) are/is formed by theinner contour of the through opening (14).
 13. The windshield wiperdrive as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that a first counterstopsurface (23) for interaction with the first end stop surface (22) and/ora second counterstop surface (25) for interaction with the second endstop surface (24) are/is arranged on the wiper arm (18), preferably on asection (27) of the wiper arm (18), which section surrounds the wipershaft (6), at least in sections, preferably completely.
 14. Thewindshield wiper drive as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that thefirst and the second end stop surface (22, 24) are arranged on two sidesfacing away from each other of a radially inwardly directed radialsection (21) of the fastening plate (7), or on two sides facing awayfrom each other of the component (29) fixed to the fastening plate (7),and in that the radial section (21) or the component (29) projects intoa guide slot (26) which is provided on the wiper arm (18) or on thewiper shaft (6) or in a component (29) fixed to the latter, extends inthe circumferential direction and has one of the counterstop surfaces(23, 25) at each of the two ends spaced apart in the circumferentialdirection.
 15. The windshield wiper drive as claimed in claim 13,characterized in that the first and the second counterstop surface (23,25) are formed on two sides facing away from each other of a radiallyoutwardly directed radial section (28) of the wiper shaft (6), or on twosides facing away from each other of the radially outwardly pointingcomponent (29) which is fixed on the guide slot (26), and in that theradial section (28) or the component (29) protrudes into a guide slot(26) which is provided on the fastening plate (7) or on a component (29)fixed to the fastening plate (7), extends in the circumferentialdirection and has an end stop surface (22, 24) at each of the two endsspaced apart in the circumferential direction.
 16. The windshield wiperdrive as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that a first counterstopsurface (23) for interaction with the first end stop surface (22) and/ora second counterstop surface (25) for interaction with the second endstop surface (24) are/is arranged on the wiper shaft (6) and/or on atleast one component (29) which is connected in a rotationally fixedmanner to the wiper shaft (6), in particular is pressed therein orthereon.
 17. The windshield wiper drive as claimed in claim 16,characterized in that the component (29) connected in a rotationallyfixed manner to the wiper shaft (6) is arranged axially between twoshaft parts (15, 18) of the wiper shaft (6) which is designed as amulti-part shaft.
 18. The windshield wiper drive as claimed in claim 17,characterized in that the first and the second end stop surface (22, 24)are arranged on two sides facing away from each other of a radiallyinwardly directed radial section (21) of the fastening plate (7), or ontwo sides facing away from each other of the component (29) fixed to thefastening plate (7), and in that the radial section (21) or thecomponent (29) projects into a guide slot (26) which is provided on thewiper arm (18) or on the wiper shaft (6) or in a component (29) fixed tothe latter, extends in the circumferential direction and has one of thecounterstop surfaces (23, 25) at each of the two ends spaced apart inthe circumferential direction.
 19. The windshield wiper drive as claimedin claim 17, characterized in that the first and the second counterstopsurface (23, 25) are formed on two sides facing away from each other ofa radially outwardly directed radial section (28) of the wiper shaft(6), or on two sides facing away from each other of the radiallyoutwardly pointing component (29) which is fixed on the guide slot (26),and in that the radial section (28) or the component (29) protrudes intoa guide slot (26) which is provided on the fastening plate (7) or on acomponent (29) fixed to the fastening plate (7), extends in thecircumferential direction and has an end stop surface (22, 24) at eachof the two ends spaced apart in the circumferential direction.